Myth Beyond Heaven

Seizing the opportunity, Ren Yuan stepped onto the path of celestial light. It pulsed with warmth, a beacon of hope amidst the desolate landscape. As he walked, the corrupted beings remained frozen, their forms flickering in uncertainty.

He continued his journey, the monolith growing larger with each step. The whispers returned, but this time, they were laced with a different emotion – fear. The path of celestial light was a stark reminder of the power Ren Yuan wielded, a power that could potentially cleanse the corruption plaguing the Heavenly Court.

The monolith loomed before him, a jagged scar against the blood-red sky. As Ren Yuan reached its base, the whispers morphed into a single, chilling voice that echoed from within the obsidian structure.

"You have overcome the first hurdle, mortal," it boomed, the voice devoid of any emotion. "But the heart of the trial lies within. Are you prepared to face the consequences of your actions?"

Ren Yuan gripped the hilt of his sword tighter, his gaze fixed on the cryptic symbols etched onto the monolith's surface. The Heavenly Desolate Orb, safely tucked away in his robes, hummed with a faint warmth, a silent reassurance.

"I am," he declared, his voice ringing with conviction. "I will see this through, no matter the cost."

The monolith pulsed once, and a section of its surface dissolved, revealing a swirling vortex of inky blackness. It emanated an aura of pure, unadulterated chaos, threatening to consume everything in its path.

Taking a deep breath, Ren Yuan steeled himself. This was it. The true test. He raised his hand, channeling the God of Heaven's inheritance. A divine shield materialized around him, shimmering defiantly against the encroaching darkness.

With a resolute nod, Ren Yuan stepped into the vortex. The world dissolved into a chaotic kaleidoscope of colors and sensations. He tumbled through a void, the roar of the divine storm deafening. When his vision finally cleared, he found himself standing on a desolate platform, suspended amidst an endless expanse of swirling darkness.

In the distance, a lone figure stood silhouetted against the churning chaos. It was humanoid in form, but its features were obscured by a swirling mist. As Ren Yuan approached, a wave of dread washed over him. This entity emanated an aura of immense power, a power that rivaled even the God of Heaven himself.

"Welcome, inheritor," the figure boomed, its voice a cacophony of whispers that echoed through the void. "You have come far. But can you withstand the burden of truth?"

Ren Yuan stopped a few paces away, his divine shield flickering under the strain of the entity's presence. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice unwavering despite the tremor in his heart.

The figure chuckled, a sound like wind whistling through a graveyard. "I am a reflection," it rasped. "A fragment of a power far older than creation itself. A power the Heavenly Court sought to control but ultimately failed to contain."

Ren Yuan frowned, the entity's words sparking a flicker of doubt within him. A fragment of a power far older than creation? Why would it appear here? And what was the relationship between it and the God of Heaven?

A spark of curiosity ignited within Ren Yuan, battling the tide of suspicion churning in his gut. "A reflection, you say?" he echoed, his voice cautious. "A reflection of what?"

The entity pulsed with an unsettling hunger. "Of creation itself," it boomed, the voice swirling around Ren Yuan like a tempest. "Before the Primal Chaos took form, there was only chaos. Pure, unbridled potential. I am an echo of that primordial state."

Ren Yuan's mind raced. Through the memories of the previous inheritor of the God of Heaven, there wasn't such a thing who could be rivaled of the Creator… Who was this?

If Yun Lintian were here, he would immediately recognize this. It was undoubtedly a remnant of the Chasm of Uncreation he had just seen.

"And what do you seek from me, then?" Ren Yuan pressed, his voice laced with suspicion.

The entity's form solidified further, revealing a grotesque mockery of a humanoid figure. Yet, a strange reverence flickered in its burning eyes.

"You, inheritor," it boomed, its voice a seductive purr. "You possess a unique spark, a lineage touched by both order and chaos. You are the key. With your help, I can break free from this prison and usher in a new era. But first, you must acknowledge me as your true master."

The entity extended a tendril of darkness, its touch promising unimaginable power. But Ren Yuan recoiled, the Heavenly Desolate Orb pulsing warmly against his chest, a beacon of truth amidst the entity's deception.

"Master?" Ren Yuan scoffed. "I serve no master. You may be powerful, but your words reek of manipulation. You speak of freedom, yet your power is all-consuming."

The entity's form contorted in rage. "Insolence!" it roared. "Do you not see the shackles the Heavenly Court has placed upon you? Their order is a gilded cage, stifling your true potential!"

"The Heavenly Court may have its flaws," Ren Yuan countered, his voice ringing with conviction. "But they have also protected this realm for millennia. Order and chaos are two sides of the same coin. One cannot exist without the other."

The entity shrieked, the platform trembling with its fury. "Foolish mortal! You cling to the shackles of a dead empire! Join me, and together, we will reshape reality in our image!"

But Ren Yuan stood firm, his resolve unwavering. He had come too far, faced too many trials, to be swayed by the entity's twisted promises. He raised his hand, channeling the God of Heaven's inheritance.

"The fate of the Primal Chaos rests on my shoulders," Ren Yuan declared, his voice echoing through the void. "And I will not be a pawn in your game. You, whoever you are, prepare to face the true inheritor of the God of Heaven's legacy!"

The entity surprisingly fell silent. Its body was distorted as if it could disappear at any moment. "Foolish mortal. You can lie to everyone but not yourself. The darkness in your heart has long consumed you… Kekeke…" The entity spoke slowly before its figure dissolved completely.

A tremor shook the platform as the entity's form rippled and dissolved. The swirling darkness receded, revealing only the desolate platform suspended in the void. A wave of exhaustion washed over Ren Yuan, the divine shield flickering and fading.

Ren Yuan furrowed his brow. It was true as it said, he had merely pretended to be righteous to pass the trial...